Air Canada has launched a new codeshare and interline partnership with flydubai as part of an increasingly important alliance with the United Arab Emirates.
As part of the deal, Air Canada’s ‘AC’ designator code will be placed on nine routes operated by flydubai to Medina, Dammam, Bahrain, Jeddah, and Muscat, as well as flights to Colombo, and Karachi on the Indian Subcontinent.
In addition, a new interline agreement with flydubai will allow Air Canada passengers to connect through Dubai to more than 60 destinations operated by flydubai, including 30 destinations that are not currently served by Air Canada or any of its existing partners.
A codeshare deal is a common business partnership in the airline industry in which one carrier markets, sells and operates a flight on behalf of another airline. Revenues from the codeshare are then shared between both airlines.
An interline agreement is slightly in that it is an agreement between two airlines to carry passengers and their baggage on a single ticket making it easier for passengers to plan, book and manage journeys which require a connection.
“Air Canada is very pleased to partner with flydubai, further expanding our connectivity to the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, a growing source of immigration and travel to Canada,” commented Mark Galardo, Air Canada’s executive VP of revenue and network planning.
Although Air Canada and flydubai had few details to share, the airlines said they also planned to add new features and benefits to one another’s loyalty programme at some point later this year.
The new partnership with flydubai comes just seven months after Air Canada launched a codeshare arrangement with Emirates on up to 46 destinations between the two carriers.
Both Emirates and flydubai are fully owned by the government of Dubai.
Air Canada and Emirates have also announced plans to offer reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, allowing members of Aeroplan and Skywards to earn and redeem points on flights operated by either carrier.
The announcement comes just weeks after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Canada signed an expanded air services agreement that gives airlines from either country greater access to each other’s air markets.
Emirates has already taken advantage of the new agreement by adding additional services between Dubai and Toronto, and from July 5, the airline will launch an all-new route to Montreal.
